Frontier Communications, the company that purchased Verizonís
landline service several years ago, says its service areas in Ohio - including the
Lowell, Lower Salem, Watertown, Barlow and Beverly exchanges, along with the Parkersburg
area in West Virginia - have been selected by the Federal Communications
Commission to take part in a pilot program that seeks to encourage broadband adoption
by extending Lifeline discounts to families who cannot afford high-speed
Internet plus offer training to willing participants.

Frontier will work with Connect Ohio, the non-profit firm
thatís been helping the Washington County Commissioners to establish countywide
wireless broadband service via Smart Networks.

In the past two years Connect Ohio has trained more than
30,000 people how to access and use broadband. Frontier says it will work
with Connect Ohio to provide discounted Internet service to graduates of such training programs.

The new effort will kick off in the first half of 2013.
Frontier will publicize the program with assistance from area news media
including WMOA as soon as details are finalized.